During late March of this year, Congress approved the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to provide relief across the economic spectrum as the Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic hit the U.S. people and the economy. Under the Cares Act, single adults with a Social Security number and adjusted gross income of $75,000, and married couples filing joint returns, with the income limit of $150,000 are eligible to receive a stimulus check.
However, under the Trump administration, approximately 2 million U.S. citizens married to immigrants (who do not possess a social security number) are not receiving federal pandemic aid and more specifically if they file joint tax returns are further penalized to the point that the US citizen spouse is not entitled to benefits. These new rules target the immigration status of their spouses, to the extent the U.S. citizen is being punished for who he/she married.
Recently, a group of Republicans introduced a bill, the Coronavirus Assistance for American Families Act that eliminates the marriage punishment rule the Trump administration worked into the CARES Act and would lower the sum the government sends out to $1,000. Previously, Republican and Democrat proposals have called for $1,200 checks to adults and $500 -$1,200 for dependents. In order to qualify for this new proposed change, both adults and dependents would need valid Social Security numbers. Unlike the CARES Act, this proposal would include all adult dependents, including college students and individuals with disabilities.
We, at Emandi Law Firm, are closely monitoring this update and will provide them as more information becomes available.
Related Blogs: https://emandilaw.com/united-states-citizenship-and-immigration-service-uscis-furloughs-staff/
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